bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

[wyliewesty]

I have a 16' fiberglass bass boat without a motor. Would it be unsafe to put a trolling motor on the transom and use it as the only power on the boat. I fish lake lavon in texas and there are many nice places I could fish near diffrent boat ramps. I am not intrested in going fast or in crossing the lake, just in putting the boat in where I want to fish and staying close to shore and the boat ramp. Any info will help alot thankyou. Bill

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

Most folks probably wouldn't recommend it...but if you wanted to I'd get at least a 55-75lb thrust Minn Kota so a stiff breeze won't take over and push the boat where it wants.

Better yet I'd get a 10hp johnnyrude, they can be gotten for a reasonable price to get your rig on the water.

 

[nimmor]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

As far as unsafe I see nothing unsafe as long as you have
1. A trolling motor big enough to control the boat.
2. An anchor in case the moter fails and your drifting
3. A paddle in case the motor fails.
There is a local lake here that has a 10 HP rule, if it is bigger than 10 HP you can't even start it to load with. You see bass boats with 9.9's on the back. The one that took me getting used to was seeing 28 ft pontoons with 9.9's on the back. I personaly would prefer the trolling motor to be on the bow, it gives you better control when fishing. But in your case I would assume being on the transom would make it easier to load.

 

[RicMic]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

We have lots of electric only lakes around here and they even have bass tournaments of some of them. The most popular setup for the serious is THREE trolling motors, two on the transom and one on the bow. I have a 14' jon boat and when I fish the electric only lakes I have a 55 on the front and a 40 on the transom. Electrics don't have all that much power, so I windy day, makes it really hard to control without a motor on both ends and if the wind comes up on the way back to the ramp, its ALWAYS in the wrong direction. Now with the two motors I always have three batteries, one is in emergency reserve.

 

[NYBo]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

Welcome to iboats!

As long as gas motors are permitted on the lakes you will be fishing, I also vote for a modest gas motor, with a bow-mounted electric trolling motor. A lot more versatility and range than electric only.

 

[milmat1]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

No Problem, in fact you can mount two of them and theres a handle kit that connects the tillers together.(dont remember where i seen that at!). But I have seen several people do this..And two 50lb Minnkota's will push you along pretty good !

 

[jhande]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

I would not call it unsafe to have only a trolling motor attached to your transom, as long as you have another means of propulsion (such as oars).

As others have said, a small horse outboard would be a better beginning option, then opt for the trolling motor.

I have quite a few lakes here in my neck of the woods in NH. I try to avoid windy days but there are times I get caught.

I have fished for years in my 16' canoe with just an achor and my paddle.

This year I picked up a 14' fishing boat with a 6.5hp and a 40# Minn Kota. The few times I used it the trolling motor worked fine. I only used the outboard to span the lakes getting to the hot spots.

The winds "usually" blow in the same direction whenever I go out on the lakes. So I try to head into the wind when heading out. This way I have the wind to my back heading to shore.

I have seen many people around here that use just a trolling motor. But they all have either paddles or oars with them.

 

[whiskerwhipper]

Re: bassboat with only trolling motor on transom

Try the Minn Kota E-Drive system. They designed it to be used on pontoon boats and bass boats for electric only lakes or residential lakes. If ya boat cant handle 4 batteries try the Torqeedo